Beijing, April 5 (Reuters): Tibet’s Communist Party chief promised a trouble-free Olympic torch relay through the region, even as security forces struggled to stamp out violence in a nearby ethnic Tibetan area.
Just 125 days before the Olympic Games begin in Beijing, the evening news featured Tibetans saying they were pleased with China’s development policies.
State-run television also ran a long programme on the life of the Dalai Lama.
In Paris, French human rights minister Rama Yade said President Nicolas Sarkozy would not attend the opening ceremony of the Games unless China opened talks with the Dalai Lama.
She said she understood the emotions sparked by Tibet and urged China to live up to its promises to promote human rights.
Many western nations have urged Beijing to open a dialogue with the Tibetan leader, but China has rejected the idea and accused him of orchestrating the violence and pursuing Tibetan independence. The Dalai Lama says he wants only autonomy.
